PHCSC provides the mechanism for Interior Health, the Town of Princeton, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, the Support Our Health Care (SOHC) Society, Princeton General Hospital, the Cascade Medical Clinic, and Ridgewood Lodge to work together to support stable, sustainable and accessible health care in the area.

Did you know that one in four people who are living with HIV don’t know it. All adults should have a test every four years. If more people know their HIV status and receive early treatment, the spread of the infection in our communities can be stopped.

Testing will be available at the Princeton Health Centre (downstairs in the PGH) on Thursday, July 13th from 1:00 -3:00 pm.

If you prefer to meet elsewhere earlier that day for a private appointment, you can phone Colleen, Health Outreach Nurse, 250-488-3875

Rosalia Guthrie, Paul Dutton and Carolyn Carpan have each felt pressure to pay extra fees for medical care. The Globe and Mail spoke with them as part of its investigation of private clinics. (Photos by Amber Bracken, Fred Lum, and Jeff Bassett for the Glove and Mail.)

Globe and Mail reporter Kathy Tomlinson, reveals illegal double-dipping practice is becoming a common practice in Canada. Little or no effort is being made to stop doctor-owned clinics from making patients pay extra to bypass long lines for everything from simple appointment to major surgery.

Experts say churning out more medical graduate will not solve B.C.’s family doctor shortage. It’s all about the pay. (Jared Rodriguez/Flickr)

Christopher Pengilly paid $15,000 to take over a medical practice in Victoria B.C., in the ’70s, beating out dozens of other doctors vying for it, but four decades later when he wanted to retire, nobody wanted to replace him.
“My pants were just about worn out from begging on my knees, can you pretty please take this one and that one,” said Pengilly who spent months finding his patients new physicians after dissolving his practice.
And he says this is indicative of a bigger problem in the province, when it comes to the dearth of family doctors.
In B.C., about 700,000 people, or 15 per cent of the population, have no family doctor.Read more »

Ada Dominguez struggles to pay for her medications and sometimes does without. (Melanie Glanz/CBC

Governments should pay for essential prescribed medicines for all Canadians in order to improve their health care, new research suggests.

Drugs considered “essential medicines” should be available at all times to everyone who needs them, the researchers say. Examples include insulin, some antibiotics and oral contraceptives.

The World Health Organization introduced the concept of essential medicines, and more than 110 countries have adapted it to their needs. Canada has not, despite a 2012 call from the House of Commons health committee to establish such a list as soon as possible.

In Monday’s issue of the CMAJ Open, an online open-access journal, Dr. Nav Persaud, a family physician at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, and his team describe how they developed a preliminary Canadian essential medicines list of 125 drugs.

“If you look at the medications on the list, these are treatments for high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV,” Persaud said in an interview. The medications have been shown to save lives.Read more »

Excellent news! MP Marc Serré’s (Nickel Belt) motion to develop a national seniors strategy was voted on and passed by Parliament on May 22.
Motion to be studied by House of Commons committee means we are one step closer to a national seniors strategy.

Canadians are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. We think it’s high time our health care system evolved to support this success story. Job one must be to build a national strategy on seniors care and a new Motion from MP Marc Serré proposes to do just that.

This Motion was inspired by the stories and the ideas presented here on Demand A Plan. Your support made this happen, so first of all, thank you!

Now, this Motion needs our support to help ensure seniors get better access to efficient, high-quality care, which will in turn improve access for all Canadians.

With strategic action, we can step up as a country and provide the support seniors need to enjoy better lives, longer.

Please take a minute to send this letter to your MP. Our collective voice cannot be ignored.

The BC Health Coalition reviewed the major B.C. parties’ platforms to evaluate their positions on five areas that would improve public health care for everyone. Click on the following link to view the guide: